Ice-machine.



No. 676,6 6. Patented lune l8, I90l.

J. PATTEN.

ICE MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 10, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

Tn: norms PETERS co. wow-uma, WASHINGTON n. c

No. 676,666. Patented lune l8, l90l.

J. PATTEN.

ICE MACHINE.

(Application med Oct. 10, 1900., (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrrcs.

JOHN IATTEN, OFIEALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE PATTEN VACUUM ICEMACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ICE-MACHINE.

sracrrrca'rron forming part ofLetters Patent No. 676,666, dated June 18,1901.

Application filed October 10, 1900. Serial No. 32,560. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN PATTEN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Ice- Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention comprises various improvements in that class ofice-making apparatus in which water is frozen by subjecting it to theinfluence of a high vacuum. The rapid evaporation thus produced deprivesthe water of its heat and converts it into ice.

' The present application relates more particularly to the vessel inwhich the ice is formed, which will be termed the freezingchamber, andthe apparatus associated therewith; and it consistsin variousimprovements upon apparatus previously invented by me and forming thesubject-matter of application, Serial No. 604,271, filed August 29,1896. Patentable features disclosed in this application and not claimedherein are claimed in said prior application.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan View illustrating therelation and arrangement of a complete refrigerating plant embodying thepresent invention. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged plan view of one of thefreezing-chambers and a sectional plan view of another. Fig. 8 is avertical section of the freezing-chamber about on the line 3 3 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the manner ofremoving the ice from the freezing-chamber. Fig. 5 is a sectional planon the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the lockingdevice illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional viewillustrating the device for feeding water to the freezing-chamber. Fig.9 is a vertical section illustrating the connection between thefreezing-chamber and the vapor-exhaust pipe. Fig. 10 is a section on theline 1010 of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a detail View of part of the gearingconnected with the rotatable spray-pipe, and Fig. 12 is a detail view ofan ice-retaining attachment for a baflie-plate in the freezing-chamber.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, A A indicate the freezing-chambers,five being shown in the plant illustrated, and B B indicate absorbers.All of the freezing-chambers, and preferably all but one of theabsorbers, communicate with a common tank or tube 0 throughconnecting-pipes a and I), respectively. In the embodiment of myinvention herein illustrated all but one of the absorbers communicatewith a common exhaustwhich is directly connected to the pipe d.

The acid in the absorbers is kept constantly cooled by a series of pipesor coils, (notshown,) which are supplied by a corresponding series ofpipesff. The water enters the pipesf through a header F, and afterpassing through the series of absorbers it leaves through a secondheader F. It is conveyed away by a pipe f.

Sulfuric acid or other suitable material is circulated through theabsorbers B to take up a large proportion of the vapor from thefreezing-chambers, and thus relieve the pumps and produce a highervacuum than could be obtained by the use of pumps alone. For the purposeof this application We will assume that acid is the absorbent materialused. This acid is circulated continuously between the absorbers B and aseries of concentrators H. Steam is supplied to coils in theconcentrators from steam-pipe N and the exhauststeam escapes through thepipe 0. The hot concentrated acid flows from the concentrators through apipe h to the end absorber of the series, and it is then caused to flowsuccessively through the several absorbers, and it leaves the absorberat the other end of the series through a pipe h andreturns to theconcentrators. The incoming and return acid pipes are arranged so thatthe hot acid from .the concentrator is cooled by the cooler acid flowingfrom the absorbers, and the heat thus returned to the concentrators. Asshown, this is accomplished by inclosing a portion of the return-pipe hin a portion of the supplypipe h, this device I being termed aheatexchanger. The exhaust from the pump E is discharged through a pipe(2 into a condenser J, in which the vapors from the concentrators arecondensed. The water flowing from the pipe f may be directed into thiscondenser and utilized for condensing purposes. The air, gases, andvapor are exhausted from the condenser J and the concentrators H througha pipe 7c by vacuumpump K. The several pumps are driven by a suitableengine L. The acid is pumped from one absorber to the next by means ofpumps M M. These pumps M are preferably connected with exhaust apparatusto clear the acid of any entrained air or gases. As shown, they areconnected with one of the concentrators through the pipes on m.

A supplemental pump G is used to pump air out of each freezing-chamberafter the ice formed therein has been removed and the chamber closedagain for forming another block. This pump may be used in connec tionwith the pump E to pump the air out of the entire system in firststarting the plant; but after the vacuum is once established the pump Emaintains it, and the pump G, as aforesaid, is employed to remove airfrom the 1' reezing-chambers which is admitted While re moving icetherefrom. Air is admitted to the freezing-chamber and the vacuumtherein broken when ice is to be removed through a valve A.

I shall now proceed to describe one of the freezing-chambers A, it beingunderstood that they are all alike in construction and operation;

The chamber preferably has a cylindrical wall1,an arched bottom plate 2,and an arched top or cover 3. The cover has a flange bearing upon apacking-ring 4, supported on the upper end of the Wall 1. The ice isformed on an inner removable wall composed of a series a vertical plates5, Figs. 4 and 6. Each of these plates is bent, as shown, on two linesand the series of platesform a polygonal wall extending around thefreezing-chamber just within the outer wall 1. The plates 5 are providedwith undercut or L-shaped ribs 6 on their vertical edges, and the ribsof adjoining plates are clamped together in such manner that they may bereadily separated. As shown, the clamps each consist of a plate 7,attached to one of the plates 5, and an eccentrio or cam 8, pivoted tosaid plate 7 and adapted to engage the rib or flange 6 of the adjoiningplate 5. (See Figs. 6'and 7.) The polygonal wall 5 rests upon steps orfianges 9 at the outer edge of a series of tables 10, which tables aresupported by a series of pedestals 11, extending upward from a pan 12,which normally rests on a ring 13, supported at the margin of the bottom2. The pin 14, extending downward from the center of the pan 12, servesto center the pan by entering the step 15, centrally located on thebottom 2.

Resting on the upper edge of the polygonal wall 5 is an annular cover16, upon which is supported two bafflc'plat'es 17 18. Dependstereo ingfrom the outer cover 3 and intermediate the annular baffle-plates 17 18is a third baffie-plate 19. These plates prevent particles of water orsnow from being drawn out with the vapor and falling between the walls 1and 5. Should water fall between these walls, the polygonal ice-chambercould not be readily removed, as hereinafter described.

The water to be frozen is sprayed against the polygonal wall 5 by anannular spraypipe 20, connected by hollow arms 21 to a verticallyarranged supply-pipe 22. Pipe 22 extends upward through a stuffing-box23, formed in the upper end of ascrew 24, which is centrally and rigidlyconnected to the cover 3. The screw 24 is engaged by a nut 25, which isrotatablysupported in the arm 26 of a crane to be hereinafter described.Nut 25 can be turned by inserting a suitable lever or handle in sockets27. The spray-pipe 20 is not a complete circle, but its endsadj'oin eachother and are closed by removable caps 28. By removing the caps 28 aflexible rod or brush may beinserted and passed entirely through thepipe 20 to clean it should it become choked. Opposite eachof thespoke-pipes 21 there is an opening in the hub 29 closedby a cap 30. Byremoving the caps 30 a brush or rod may be inserted to clean out thespoke-pipes. The perforations in the pipe 20 are necessarily small andthey may be easily clogged.

The spray-pipe is reciprocated vertically to form a sheet or cylinder ofice of the same thickness throughout the depth of the polygonal wall 5,and it is rotated at the same time to prevent the ice from being formedin ridges within said wall. Under the high vacuum which I use inproducing ice in this apparatus the water freezes at the moment itstrikes the wall 5 or the ice formed 011 said wall, and if thespray-pipe 20 were not kept constantly moving the inner surface of theice would be very irregular.

The spray-pipe is rotated continuously by means of a power-shaft 31,beuel-gears 32, vertical shaft 33, bevel-gears 34:, horizontal shaft 35,bevel-gears 36, vertical shaft 37, gear 38, splined 'on said shaft andadapted to slide upon and rotate with it, and an intermeshing gear 39,carried by the supply-pipe The gear 38 rotates in a sliding head 40,which slides vertically upon guidesetl. Gear 39 is also carried by saidhead 40, and a collar 4E2 sustains the pipe 22 upon the head 40.

The spray-pipe 20 and supply-pipe 22 are reciprocated vertically bymeans of alever 43, one end of which is pivotally connected to the head40, while the other end is connec'ted by a link 44 to a bracket 45,forming a rearward extension of the crane-arm 26. The link 41 isconnected to 'the bracket 45 with a limited degree of flexibility bymeans of a pair of flexible washers 46, which engage opposite sides ofthe bracket and are held in place by nuts 4.7. The lever 13 is rocked bymeans of links 48, which connect an intermediate part of the leverpivotally with opposite sides of a ring 49. On the in ner surface ofthis ring is a guide-piece which engages a continuous spiralguide-groove 50 in a drum or enlargement 51 on the upper end of shaft33. The ring 49 has also a rearward projection 52, which engages a fixedguide 53 to prevent the ringfrom turning. It will be seen that the meansdescribed are adapted to continuously rotate the spray-pipe 20 and atthe same time to reciprocate it vertically from the upper to the lowerextremes of the polygonal wall 5.

lVater is supplied to the pipe 22 through a flexible hose 54, Fig. 3,which connects with the upper end of the supply-pipe 22.

To readily gage the amount of water supplied to the freezing-chamber, Ifirst permit the water to flow in a vertical jet into a closed vesselprovided with a transparent wall, through which the jet may be seen. Asshown, the water first enters through the bottom of a vessel 55, thebody of which is composed of a glass bell 56. The water flows upwardvertically from the nozzle of a pipe 57, controlled by a valve 58. Theamount of water entering the vessel 55 can be determined quiteaccurately by the height of the jet 59, which height can be gaged by thevalve 58. From the vessel 55 the water flows through the flexible pipe54.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, it will be seen that the water from the pipe54 first enters a regulating-chamber 60, supported on the upper end ofthe pipe 22. The outflow from this chamber to the pipe 22 is controlledbya valve 61, having a series of V-shaped openings 62, which are closedby the valve-casing 63. At the upper end of the casing 63 is avalve-seat 64, upon which sits an annular washer 65, adapted to closethe entrance to pipe 22 entirely. As the valve 61 is raised the openings62 are gradually uncovered. During the operation of the machine theseopenings are always more or less uncovered the amount depending upon theposition of a float 66. The float 66 is not directly connected with thestem 67 of the valve 61, but is provided with a central opening throughwhich said stem loosely passes. The stem extends up through the top ofthe vessel and forms a guide for the float. The movement of the float 66is communicated to the stem 67 by means of link 68, lever 69, link 70,and

. lever 71, the lever 71 passing between two fixed collars 72 on thestem 67. By means of this system of leverage the movements andfluctuations of the valve 61 are very much less than those of the float66, while the power of the float to move the valve is increased. If thewater were supplied directly from the flexible pipe 64 to the freezingchamber, the head of water would vary as the spraypipe moved up and downand more water would be discharged while it was in its lowest positionthan when it was in its highest position. By the use of theequalizing-chamber 60 on the supply-pipe the water is supplied to thespray-pipe under constant head and practically uniform in quantity forany given opening of the valve 58. Of course the total amount suppliedcan be varied by means of the valve 58.

As the spray-pipe reaches its highest and lowest points the reversal ofits vertical movement would tend to momentarily displace the float60-that is, the float would be carried up or down relatively to thechamber 60 by its inertia. To prevent this, I have provided a clampingdevice which holds the valvestem 67 and prevents it movinglongitudinally for a moment at each extreme of the movement of thespray-pipe. As shown in Fig. 8, this device comprises a lever 73,pivoted at 74 and having two projections 75 76, adapted to bearalternately upon the valvestem 67 as the outer end of the lever is movedup and down. The outer end of lever 73 passes through an opening in arod 77. Rod 77 has heads 78 79 on its ends, and its middle part slidesfreely in a sleeve 80, which is confined in a fixed bracket 81. Springs82 83 surround the rod on opposite sides of the bracket and hold itnormally in a given position with reference to said bracket, in whichposition the bearing-points 75 76 of the "lever 73 are both free fromthe valve-stem 67. As the spray-pipe reaches its highest position rod 77engages a fixed bracket 84, Fig. 3, and is depressed thereby, causingthe lever 73 for a moment to clamp the valve-stem 67 and prevent thefloat 66 from rising above its proper position by reason of its inertia.In the same manner the lower end of rod 77 strikes a fixed abutment 85,and as the spraypipe reaches its lowest position the valvestem istemporarily clamped.

In the connecting-pipe a, between the freezing-chamber Aand the vaporpipe or trunk 0, there is a valve 86, by means of which thefreezing-chamber may be shut off from the vapor-pipe when it is desiredto open it for the purpose of removing the ice. As shown, this valve isoperated by a valve-stem 87, which is threaded into the central hub 88of a spider supported by a vertical portion of the connecting-pipe a.The valve 86 is operated by a handle 89 on the shaft or stem 87.

The operation of the freezing-chamber is as follows: Assuming that thechamber is closed air-tight and exhausted to a sufficient degree, themachinery is started and the valve 58 opened until the height of the jetof water 59 indicates that a proper supply is flowing to the spray-pipe.The spray-pipe is reciprocated vertically and simultaneously rotated, inconsequence of which the water is sprayed evenly over the polygonalinner wall. The length of its vertical reciprocation is practicallyequal to the depth of the polygonal wall, and as the ice cylinder isformed its lower end rests upon the tables 10. Should any of the waterdrop, it will be caught in the pan 12. I have found, however, that whenthe apparatus is in proper working condition all of the water willfreeze immediately as it strikes the surface of the ice, and practicallynone of itwill fall below the point of itsfirst contact, so that the icecylinder may be built out, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.After the ice has been formed to the desired thickness, which can bereadily determined by passing the water through a meter, the water isshut off and the valve 86 is closed tightly. The mechanism for rotatingand reciprocating the spray-pipe is then-stopped with the spray-pipe inits highest position. The nut is then turned, which raises the screw 24kand the cover 3, after which the crane 26 is swung to one side, carryingthe cover and spray-pipe with it. The crane is mounted upon a hollowshaft 90, which has a bearing 91 and a seat 92 on afixed bracket 98,Fig. 3. It Will be seen that the vertical shaft 33 passes through theaxis of the cranespindle 90 and that the crane can be rotated on theshaft 90 without disarranging the mechanism which it carries.

Two pairs of straps 94 are connected to the pan 12, Fig. 4:, and theupper ends of each pair are connected by a bail 95. Through these twobails a rod 96 is passed, and said rod is engaged by one or more hooks97, connected to an elevator or overhead traveling crane. (Not shown.)By-this means the pan 12 and the parts supported by it, together withthe cylinder of ice, as shown in Fig. 4., are lifted out of thefreezing-chamber and transported to any convenient place for cutting theice into blocks. The annular cover 16 is then removed and the polygonalside plates 5 are removed by loosening the clam ps 8. Should theseplates adhere to the ice, they may be warmed by any suitable means todetach them. The cylinder of ice is thus exposed, and it is then sawedvertically into strips. The tables 10, upon which it rests, areseparated, so that a saw can be passed between them and completely severthe ice. As soon as the ice is removed the polygonal plates and theannular cover 16 can be replaced and the parts restoredto thefreezingchamber, when the operation of forming a new cylinder of ice canbe immediately commenced. By having a series of freezingchambers all butone can be keptin constant operation and the manufacture of ice thuscarried on continuously.

By leaving a space between the outer surface of baffle-plate 19 and theinner surface of the cover to the freezing-chamber I prevent the surfaceof said baffle-plate from becoming heated enough to loosen the ice whichforms on the undersurface. If such ice should become loosened and fall,damage would prob ably result to the sprinkler. As a further means forholding any ice that may form on this lower surface of the baffle-plate19., I may provide such plate with a series of retaining devices, suchas are illustrated in detailin Fig. 12. Asuitable number of small woodenblocks or plugs 19 are secured to and project smasdownwardly from theinclined surface of the baffle-plate, and to each of said blocks aresecured metallic plates 19, provided with peripheral teeth orprojections. The ice forming on the baffle-plate is retained by thesetoothed plates, and as the wooden blocks or plugs are nonconductors theice is held securely against the plate. After the block of ice has beenformed within the freezing-chamber and the cover has been removed theoperator breaks or otherwise removes the ice from said plate.

In Fig. 11 I have illustrated in detail, on an enlarged scale, theconnection between the supply-pipe 22 and gear 39. A collar 22 is brazedor otherwise suitably secured to said supply-pipe and is provided with akey or spline 22 that enters a corresponding groove or seat in thecollar 42, which collar is engaged by threads with theupwardly-extending hub or gear 39. A set-screw 4L2 normally holds thecollars 42 and 22* together, so that the pipe 22 is rotated by the gear39. however, thetank is open and ice to be removed, the set-screw isloosened, and the supply-pipe and spray devices connected therewith canthen be lifted vertically by hand to points above the upper end of thetank and freezing-chamber, so as to oifer no obstruction to the lateralswinging of arm 26.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is

1. Inrefrigeratingapparatus, the combination with a freezing-chamber,and means for maintaining a vacuum therein, of a pan removably sustainedin said chamber, a vertical Wall supported by the pan and upon which theice is formed, and means for spraying water upon said wall.

2. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a freezing-chamber,of means for forming a cylindrical wall of ice therein, and a series ofsupports for said ice arranged below the ice and so separated that a sawmay pass between them.

3; In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a freezing-chamber,of a separable polygonal wall, means for forming ice thereon, and aseries of separated supports for said ice.

4. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a freezing-chamber,'of a removable inner apparatus upon which the ice is formed comprisinga pan, a series of separated supports carried by the pan, a separablepolygonal wall carried by said supports, and means for removing all ofsaid parts from the freez ing-chamber.

When,

5. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a'cylind'ricalfreezing-chamber, and means for maintaining a vacuum therein, of acircular spray-pipe, means for rotating said spray-pipe, and means forreciprocating the same in the direction 'of its axis.

6. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with afreezing-chamber,of a verticallyreciprocating spray' -pipe therein, and a tank connectedto and reciprocating with said spray-pipe, whereby the head of water inthe spray-pipe is rendered substantially uniform.

7. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with thefreezing-chamber, of a vertically-reciprocatin g spray-pipe, a tankcarried by said pipe, means for supplying water continuously to thetank, and a float in said tank arranged to govern the flow of water fromthe tank to the spray-pipe.

8. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with thefreezing-chamber, of a vertically-reciprocating spray-pipe, a tankmovable with said spray-pipe, a valve controlling communication from thetank to the spraypipe, the float in said tank, and the levers connectingsaid float with said valve.

9. In refrigerating apparatus, thecombination with the freezing-chamber,the verticallyreciprocating spray-pipe, the tank movable with said pipe,the valve, and the float governing said valve, of means for locking thevalve at the extremes of the reciprocating movement of the spray-pipe.

10. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with the reciprocatingspray-pipe, a tank movable therewith, the valve controllingcommunication between the tank and spraypipe, and a float forcontrolling the valve, of the stem connected to the valve, the leveradapted to clamp said stem when moved from its normal position, thespring device for holding the lever in normal position, and the fixedabutments for moving said lever out of normal position each time themovement of the spray-pipe is reversed.

11. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with thefreezing-chamber, of a vertically-reciprocatin g spray-pipe, and meansfor reciprocating said spray-pipe comprising a lever, a rotating shaft,a reverse spiral guide upon said shaft, a part reciprocated by saidguide, and a connection between said part and said lever.

12. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with thefreezing-chamber having a removable cover, of a rotating andreciproeating spray-pipe passing vertically through said cover, thecrane arranged to rock about a vertical axis, means carried by an arm ofthe crane for elevating the cover, a powershaft extending through thevertical axis of the crane, and mechanism carried by the crane andoperated by said shaft for rotating and reciprocating said spray-pipe.

13. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a freezing-chamber,and means for maintaining a vacuum therein, of a spraypipe within thechamber, and means for gaging the supply of Water to said pipecomprising a vertically-arranged nozzle, and a valve controlling theflow of water therethrough, the supply of water being determined by theheight of the jet from said nozzle.

14. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with thefreezing-chamber, and means for maintaining a vacuum therein, of a mov-'able spray-pipe extending through the Wall of the chamber, a tankcarried by said spraypipe for maintaining a constant head of Watertherein, a flexible pipe for supplying said tank, and means for gagingthe amount of water admitted to said flexible pipe.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PATTEN.

Witnesses:

FELIX R. SULLIVAN, Lours A. KATZENBERGEE.

